MANCHESTER UNITED will offer Senne Lammens support following his World Cup clanger.
The 24-year-old keeper’s fatal error was pounced on by Spain‘s Mikel Merino in the 88th minute of Belgium‘s 2-1 quarter-final defeat.
Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens parried a shot before Spain’s Mikel Merino scored on the rebound Credit: AP
Belgium lost 2-1 to the Euros champs following Lammens’ mistake Credit: Alamy
Spain’s and Arsenal’s Mikel Merino consoles Lammens at full-time in Los Angeles Credit: Alamy
Bound for extra time, Lammens—who replaced the injured Thibaut Courtois ten minutes earlier—spilled Pau Cubarsi’s 25-yard shot, teeing up Arsenal‘s Merino to roof the rebound and book Spain a semi-final with France.
After Courtois and the Belgian bench rushed to console a shattered Lammens at the end of his horror World Cup debut in Los Angeles, that protective ring will now transfer to Old Trafford.
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Real Madrid stopper Courtois said at the world-beating SoFi stadium: “I gave him a big hug. Much more, I cannot do at the moment.
“I know for goalkeepers it’s a s**t feeling, but he’s a great goalkeeper and he will only get stronger from this.
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“He is a strong guy, he has a strong personality and I’m sure he will be fine.
“He will have some holidays and he will regroup in Manchester and he will have a great season. I don’t have a doubt about this.”
Lammens’ club teammates are expected to reach out as he prepares to bounce back before a more demanding schedule this season.
A popular figure since his £18.2m move from Royal Antwerp last summer, the young keeper will be backed by a robust club support network when he reports for pre-season in three weeks.
United’s six-man leadership group, including Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire are expected to rally around Lammens Credit: Getty
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United’s leadership group—including skipper Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, and fellow keeper Tom Heaton—are set to rally around him.
After a stellar breakthrough season, Lammens won the hearts of United fans and scooped the Premier League’s Transfer of the Season award.
Despite his limited experience—just 64 games in the Belgian top-flight before moving—he thrived under the pressure of being Old Trafford‘s No1.
Having ousted Altay Bayindir to start 32 league matches, Lammens played a vital role in United’s third-place finish has bought him a vast reserve of goodwill.
Club sources highlighted his mentality last season after he recovered from a loose pass that led to Cody Gakpo‘s goal in an eventual 3-2 victory against Liverpool.
United are no strangers to managing high-profile World Cup drama.
The club famously shielded David Beckham after his 1998 red card and quickly navigated Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo‘s bust-up in 2006.
Beckham was in the eye of a storm when he was sent off for lashing out at Argentine midfielder, and future Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone in England’s quarter-final defeat at the 1998 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Rooney was given his marching orders for a foul on United teammate Ronaldo in England’s defeat to Portugal, with Ronaldo infamously winking as his club pal trudged off.
Lammens’ backlash is not on those levels, but Fernandes will be vital to his recovery—having recently silenced his own social media comments after enduring online abuse following Portugal‘s exit.
The blunder makes Lammens the first substitute goalkeeper to make an error leading to a goal in a World Cup match since Dimbi Tubilandu with DR Congo against Yugoslavia in 1974.
David Beckham was in the eye of a storm when he was sent off for lashing out at Argentine midfielder Diego Simeone in England’s quarter-final defeat at the 1998 World Cup Credit: Alamy
